Eurozone economic growth slows to nine-month low as cost pressures surge in World Economy News 08/04/2026 The eurozone private sector economy recorded its weakest expansion in nine months during March, according to S&P Global’s latest PMI survey data released Tuesday, as new orders declined and input costs jumped to their highest level in over three years. The S&P Global Eurozone Composite PMI Output Index fell to 50.7 in March from 51.9 in February, marking the slowest growth rate since June 2025. The reading remained above the 50 threshold that separates expansion from contraction but stood well below the historical average of 52.4. The services sector drove the slowdown, with the Business Activity Index dropping to 50.2 from 51.9 in February, the lowest reading in 10 months. Manufacturing output growth remained solid. Spain was the fastest-growing country in March with an accelerated upturn, followed by Ireland, despite its expansion rate easing to a six-month low. Germany continued to see activity growth but at the weakest pace so far this year. France and Italy recorded contractions. Total new business intakes across the eurozone declined in March for the first time since July 2025, driven by lower orders received by services companies. New export orders, which includes intra-eurozone trade, also deteriorated, though the rate of decline remained mild. Private sector employment fell slightly in March, marking the steepest rate of job shedding in 13 months, primarily due to a sharper drop in factory employment. Input cost inflation accelerated sharply to its highest level in just over three years. Manufacturing saw a record one-month increase in its input prices index, rising nearly 11 points since February. Services expenses also rose steeply. Prices charged by businesses increased at the strongest rate since February 2024, though the rise in inflation was more constrained than the jump in input costs. Business optimism fell for the first time since December 2025, with confidence declining to its lowest level in almost a year. Chris Williamson, Chief Business Economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said the March PMI indicates the eurozone economy has been hit hard by the war in the Middle East. “The encouraging signs of growth seen earlier in the year have been eradicated thanks to surging energy prices, choked supply chains, financial market volatility and a renewed downturn in demand,” Williamson said. The PMI data suggests first quarter GDP growth of 0.2%, with clear risks of the economy contracting in the second quarter unless there is a swift resolution to the conflict, according to Williamson. Source: Investing.com 2026-04-08 hellenicshippingnews... window.___gcfg = {lang: 'en-US'}; (function(w, d, s) { function go(){ var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], load = function(url, id) { if (d.getElementById(id)) {return;} js = d.createElement(s); js.src = url; js.id = id; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }; load('//connect.facebook.net/en/all.js#xfbml=1', 'fbjssdk'); load('https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js', 'gplus1js'); load('//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js', 'tweetjs'); } if (w.addEventListener) { w.addEventListener("load", go, false); } else if (w.attachEvent) { w.attachEvent("onload",go); } }(window, document, 'script')); tweet Share